Tomorrow Is Never Promised

Chapter 12 Part 1

Oliver

“God you are such a pussy.”

I rolled my eyes at my best friend as I poured another glass of wine for myself and rested my elbows on the kitchen island.

“I mean seriously, not even a kiss?” He questioned.

“Nope.” I took a gulp of my wine and set the glass forcefully on the hard granite, surprised that I didn’t break the stem.

Gavin took notice of my apparent frustration and bit his bottom lip.

“I’m sorry. You just lost your case, the last thing you want to talk about is hot detective.”

I shrugged my shoulders. Actually talking about Ethan would be better than talking about how I just got the boot in the worst possible way.

“It’s not that I don’t want to.”

Gavin perked up a bit at that statement. “Oh? Is someone changing their mind about mixing business with pleasure?”

“Well. It wouldn’t exactly matter anymore, since we’re no longer partners.” I lament.

Gavin reached across the island and gripped my arm. “They are idiots for kicking you off this case hun. You are the best damn profiler west of the Mississippi.”

I let out a snort and took another drink of my wine. “Thanks, but you don’t need to try and cheer me up.”

He bobbed his head side to side as he thought on that comment. His eyes settled on the package I had received earlier, sitting untouched on the kitchen counter next to the coffee maker.

“What’s this?” He approached it and picked it up in his slender hands. He held it close to his ear and shook it, frowning at its lack of sound.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. It was delivered earlier and there’s no return address.”

He placed the box on the counter and pushed it towards me. “You should open it. Maybe it’s a bag of dicks.” He smirked.

I arched an eyebrow at him. “Is this some weird pre birthday prank gift from you?”

“I didn’t send that. Although,” He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Now that you said that. I definitely have to do that next year.”

I snorted and shook my head, the wine already starting to make my head feel a little floaty. I peeled the brown paper back to reveal a cardboard box. I grabbed a knife out of the block to my left and cut the tape. I set the knife down and pulled the flaps apart. What was inside was what looked like a plastic bag covered in butcher paper. I pulled the paper back and then immediately pulled my hand away, gasping and covering my mouth with the back of my hand.

“What? What is it?” Gavin set his wine glass down and gave me an alarmed look.

I pushed the box towards him and he peered inside.

“Oh god!” He pushed the box away and gagged.

I took a deep breath and mustered my courage, pulling the box back towards me and peering inside of it to get a better look at the heart that was contained within.

If my years of anatomy and physiology and cadaver labs proved useful, it was safe to assume that it was a human heart. Why it was placed in a box addressed to me and set on my doorstep was beyond me. However, if the past week were any indication, I would fetch a guess to say that it was from the killer and that the heart belonged to our latest victim.

“We both know who that’s from.” Gavin read my mind, his breathing still quick and his complexion still somewhat pale.

I nodded and reached for my phone, intending to call Ethan. However, it vibrated, causing me to jerk my hand back in surprise. It vibrated again so I picked it up, glancing at the screen. It was a text message.

I opened the thread, discovering it was from an unknown number.

Unknown: Did you get my present?

I froze, staring at the message. I knew who it was. But how did they know that I opened the package just now. I glanced around the kitchen as if I would spot them hiding in one of the corners.

“What is it?” Gavin questioned.

“It’s… It’s them.”

“The killer?” He asked.

I nodded and turned my attention back to the phone screen. Three little dots formed, dancing up and down on the screen as the mystery individual typed out their next message.

Unknown: I’m not in the house. Not this time.

My blood froze. They were watching me. The only question was, how? I turned around and flung the curtains to the kitchen closed. Then crossed over to the other window and did the same. Gavin meanwhile watched me with wide eyes.

“Are they watching us?” He asked.

I nodded my response and walked over to the back door, checking to make sure the lock was engaged and then peering through the curtain on the tiny window. The backyard was completely empty, the only movement being the brown and orange leaves I needed to rake up gliding across the yard with the slight breeze.

I looked over my shoulder at Gavin, who was still watching me with a slight flicker of fear in his eyes.

“Check the front door.”

He nodded his head sharply and disappeared down the hallway. Meanwhile, I typed a message back with shaky hands and hit send.

Oliver: Then where are you?

Unknown: You’re asking the wrong questions Ollie.

Unknown: What you should be asking is.

Unknown: How well did you really know your mother?

Unknown: How much do you really know about that night your parents died?

“What are they saying?” Gavin asked, returning from the hallway and officially looking panicked.

I shook my head, my eyes still glued to the phone screen. “I don’t know.” I typed a reply back.

Oliver: I don’t understand.

Gavin came around the island to peer over my shoulder. “How well did you really know your mother? What the hell does that mean?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I have no idea.”

Unknown: You will soon enough.

I waited anxiously for a response, but no dots appeared signaling that they were typing a response.

The doorbell rang causing the both of us to jump and Gavin to give out a yelp. We slowly walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway, Gavin cowering slightly behind me with his hands on my shoulder. As we passed by the closet under the stairs I reached inside and grabbed the aluminum baseball bat I kept in there. I brought it up, ready to take a swing at whoever was on the other side of the door.

“Ollie, open up!”

The sound of Ethan’s voice on the other side made the both of us nearly jump out of our skin. I unlocked the door and flung it open, throwing myself at the man on the other side. Once my arms were around him I instantly felt safe.

“What’s wrong?” Ethan’s voice rumbled his chest. “What’s with the bat?”

“The killer…” Gavin started.

“Did they attack again?” Ethan pushed me away gently and gave me a once over, a look of concern in his eyes.

“No,” I held up my phone so he could see the message thread. “They started texting me.”

“I’m fine by the way.” Gavin spoke up in a snarky tone.

Ethan ignored him and instead grabbed my phone. His eyebrows furrowed as he read through the thread.

“Present?” He asked, pertaining to the message.

“Yeah, a human heart.” Gavin squeaked.

Ethan’s face screwed up. “A heart?”

“Yeah, it’s on the kitchen island.” I explained.

Ethan pushed past the both of us and headed in the direction of the kitchen. Gavin and I followed close behind until all three of us were standing around the island, the box situated in between us. I folded my arms tight around myself, trying to stave off the nervous energy that flooded through me.

“Well,” Ethan peered inside the box. “It’s clear who this belongs to.”

“Who?” Gavin asked.

Ethan bit his bottom lip before shaking his head. “You know I can’t divulge information about an active investigation.”

“Seriously?” Gavin’s tone was disbelieving. “This is Ollie’s safety were talking about here.”

“You don’t think I know that?” Ethan’s tone was pained as he spoke.

“I don’t know, do you?” Gavin challenged.

“Gavin.” I spoke up in a stern voice. “Everything Ethan has done so far is to protect me.”

“I know! It’s just-“ Gavin let out a frustrated groan and looked towards the ceiling. “How can you be so calm and collected when there’s a f*****g heart sitting on your kitchen counter?!”

“I’m not, but it’s better than freaking out.” I gave him a pointed look.

Gavin contemplated my words before blowing out a sharp force of air and nodding his head.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s just-I’m worried for you Ollie.”

I nodded in understanding. I could see how Gavin would be freaking out about this right now, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t either. The difference between Gavin and I was that, unlike Gavin, I was sort of used to seeing gruesome stuff like this on a daily basis. Of course he was freaking out, I didn’t blame him for that. His temperament however, was making it harder for me to keep it together.

I wanted to crawl into a dark space, away from everyone else, a place where even this killer wouldn’t be able to find me. I wanted to cry, I wanted to punch something, I wanted to lash out at the fact that this person was messing with me and tearing open old wounds.

“Ollie.”

I jerked my head towards Gavin. He and Ethan were both giving me a concerned look. I hated when people gave me that look.

“We lost you there for a moment. You okay?” Ethan asked.

“Yeah,” My voice went up a couple of octaves, causing both him and Gavin to raise an eyebrow at me. “I’m fine. I just… I’m tired. I think I’m just going to go to bed.”

“It’s eight-“ Gavin started but I cut him off.

“I’m tired.” I said more sternly, causing him to retract slightly.

I winced and gave him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s okay. You’ve been through a lot. Why don’t you go upstairs and lay down.”

I nodded and gave him one final look, saying I’m sorry. Then, I pulled him in for a tight hug, feeling somewhat better when he reciprocated the amount of pressure I was giving in the hug. That was the thing I enjoyed most about Gavin, he always gave the best hugs regardless of his tiny frame.

I gave Ethan one final look before retreating down the hall towards the staircase. I trudged up each step slowly, my brain feeling numb and my heart feeling like it was about to explode out of my chest. I could feel the tears beginning to well up in my eyes as I pushed through my bedroom door and closed it shut behind me.

I sank into my bed as the tears began to flow out of me. I grabbed the nearest pillow, a really comfy and overstuffed one, and hugged it close to my body. I began to shake as my crying became slightly more violent, pushing my face into the pillow to muffle my cries.

It was just beginning, and the killer had already gotten to me.